The Keeper I (Cont.)

I have been able to repair the mold and cast it again. Better, this time…

Fixing the mold…

Successful cast, right out of the mold. Next step is to stain it. Probably in black…

The Keeper II

Casting my latest “Keeper” in cement. Over 6’ tall.

My first cast was almost a complete disaster. My mold exploded under the pressure of the cement. Fortunately, the silicone part of the mold stuck out bt did not tear. My Keeper ended up with a huge belly that I had to carve out.

Exploded mold!….


Savaged cast. After having carved out the big belly, and stained it in black.

Life is Short II

This is my second 6’ tall piece, cast in cement. Its title is “Life is Short”.

Out of the mold and bolted on its base.

Out of the mold and bolted on its base.

After the first layer of acid stain.

After the first layer of acid stain.

The finished piece after a second layer of acid stain and a layer of wax.

The finished piece after a second layer of acid stain and a layer of wax.

Gorgeous for Ever II

Having no more access to the foundry where I used to cast my bronzes because of COVID-19, I started to experiment with cement. Here is how I cast in cement my 6’ tall piece untitled “Gorgeous for Ever”.

I used a small crane to hold the mold vertical. Full of cement it weights close to 150 lbs.

I used a small crane to hold the mold vertical. Full of cement it weights close to 150 lbs.

I made this small jig to hold in place the rebar and three coupling nuts which will be imbedded in the cement, so that I can bolt the sculpture on a base.

I made this small jig to hold in place the rebar and three coupling nuts which will be imbedded in the cement, so that I can bolt the sculpture on a base.

Removing the mold. Not perfect!… missing the neck!….Glad I had a rebar to hold the head!… I re-created the neck by hand.

Removing the mold. Not perfect!… missing the neck!….Glad I had a rebar to hold the head!… I re-created the neck by hand.

Standing on its base. Many defects on the surface. I need to improve my cement mix…

Standing on its base. Many defects on the surface. I need to improve my cement mix…

The finished piece with acid stain.

The finished piece with acid stain.

Grand Figures

Taking advantage of all the time available to me thanks to the “Shelter in place”, I finished two large sculptures (6 foot tall) , and made the molds. I am now waiting for the easing of the confinement to get access to a foundry to cast these in bronze. Still a lot of work ahead…

Clay still on its armature.

Clay still on its armature.

Making the Silicone mold

Making the Silicone mold

Making the mother mold in Epoxy. This makes a rigid shell around the flexible Silicone.

Making the mother mold in Epoxy. This makes a rigid shell around the flexible Silicone.

Completed mold. The metal rods contribute to the rigidity of the mold. The mold is hanging from the ceiling ready to “roto-cast” the wax. I’ll pour the liquid wax in the mold, and then move the mold in all directions to slush the wax inside, in orde…

Completed mold. The metal rods contribute to the rigidity of the mold. The mold is hanging from the ceiling ready to “roto-cast” the wax. I’ll pour the liquid wax in the mold, and then move the mold in all directions to slush the wax inside, in order to get a uniform thickness of the wax. This is the theory. In practice I will take me several attempts before success). I am glad that the wax can be re-melted over and over!….

Wax cast from the mold after the third attempt. 10 lbs of wax, which will translate in a 80 lbs bronze.

Wax cast from the mold after the third attempt. 10 lbs of wax, which will translate in a 80 lbs bronze.

Bark Series

I am working on a series of bronzes cast from organic burn-outs of pieces of bark.

Instead of using the lost wax process, I took the actual pieces of bark, dipped them into the slurry to build up a ceramic shell around the bark. I then put these in a furnace at high temperature (1800 F) in order to burn the bark (organic burn-out), which leaves their shape into which the melted bronze is poured. 

Making of "Rebirth"

"Rebirth". Bronze. 10" diameter, 42 lbs, completed in April 2017

"Rebirth". Bronze. 10" diameter, 42 lbs, completed in April 2017

It all started from this older piece...

It all started from this older piece...

I discarded a few ideas such as this one....

I discarded a few ideas such as this one....

... before finally coming up with this one

... before finally coming up with this one

Finished clay work

Finished clay work

Cutting the clay into two pieces in order to make the mold

Cutting the clay into two pieces in order to make the mold

The mold is complete. Four rubber parts and four mother mold parts. The mother mold is holding the rubber mold in place, and is made of hydrocal, which is a kind of plaster.

The mold is complete. Four rubber parts and four mother mold parts. The mother mold is holding the rubber mold in place, and is made of hydrocal, which is a kind of plaster.

Brushing the wax in the rubber mold...

Brushing the wax in the rubber mold...

Carving "Shy?"

"Shy?". Alabaster stone. 18" high. Completed in June 2017.

"Shy?". Alabaster stone. 18" high. Completed in June 2017.

I just got a 50 lbs piece of Alabaster. I know what I want to do and draw it on the stone

I just got a 50 lbs piece of Alabaster. I know what I want to do and draw it on the stone

A few holes with a power drill, and I carve off the coarse outline

A few holes with a power drill, and I carve off the coarse outline

The curve of the back begins to appear...

The curve of the back begins to appear...

Carving the front...

Carving the front...

Carving the neck… big mistake… The head is now too heavy for the narrow neck. The head breaks off… I should have been more careful.Disappointment, but not a surprise…

Carving the neck… big mistake… The head is now too heavy for the narrow neck. The head breaks off… I should have been more careful.Disappointment, but not a surprise…

Starting the sanding...

Starting the sanding...

The finished piece after sanding and waxing, mounted on a ½” thick wooden base.

The finished piece after sanding and waxing, mounted on a ½” thick wooden base.

Front view

Front view

Wax Burnout furnace

This is the furnace used to melt the wax in the lost wax process of Bronze making.

The piece is heated up to 1600 to 1800 F.

The piece is heated between 1600 F and 1800 F to melt and burn the wax in the bronze making with the lost-wax process.

Casting "Thinking Out Of The Box" in bronze

"Thinking Out Of The Box" in clay. I am going to cast it in bronze.

"Thinking Out Of The Box" in clay. I am going to cast it in bronze.

Making the mold

Making the mold

Recycling the first wax cast after I messed up... (too many defects)

Recycling the first wax cast after I messed up... (too many defects)

The two parts of the wax before being stitched together

The two parts of the wax before being stitched together

The two parts of the wax cast ready to be stitched together

The two parts of the wax cast ready to be stitched together

Gating completed

Gating completed

Dipping in the slurry

Dipping in the slurry

After the wax burn-out

After the wax burn-out

Breaking the shell

Breaking the shell

Raw bronze, after shell removed and the gates cut off.

Raw bronze, after shell removed and the gates cut off.

After many hours of sanding and polishing....

After many hours of sanding and polishing....

...and finally....it is done (If it is ever...)

...and finally....it is done (If it is ever...)